This is a weird question, I know, but does anyone know how to measure the strength of certain bodyparts against each other? For example, if I can squat x number of pounds and bench x number of pounds, then my lower body is x amount stronger than my upper body. Also, do you know if there are any standards for just determining strength overall? I heard that you should be able to squat your own bodyweight a couple times. Same for benching. Any truth to that?

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You're going to get a lot of better answers to this, but I'm coming out of hiatus just to say this. You should be able to squat a lot more than your bodyweight many times over, and you should at a minimum be able to bench your body weight. I bench about 235 and weigh 175. That's not a max press. That's 3 sets at about 11, 10, 9 reps per set. As for squats, my working weight is about 280-290, because I hate the pressure that the bar puts across my shoulders. In a plate leg press, I can work at over 300, but I've never really tested the limit.

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There are many ways to measure/compare your strength. Here are 2 taken from "Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness" by Hoeger&amp;Hoeger. This was used in my 300 level university course in the early 90's. All weights are based on a Universal machine (there are conversions for free weights).

Strength to body weight ratio based on a 1 rep max. First column of numbers indicate "health fitness standard" (think: healthy, average, active person). The second column is in the "high physical fitness standard" (excellent,atheletic?)

Notes: The values are for males. The chart has regular steps and this is just 2 levels.

For strength and endurance as a function of % body weight. The first column of numbers is the % of your body weight use on the exercises. Second and third numbers represent reps to hit "health fitness" and in the "high physical fitness" standards respectively.

Using these types of table you could catagorize a body part's strength. For instance, all your leg score are from column 1 but upper body scores are column 2. A conclusion would be "your upper body is disproportionally stronger than your lower body".

My advice, ignore charts and stats of what you 'should' be able to lift.

Everyone is different. Besides that, unless you've seen the lift someone is claiming, you have no way to verify.

When someone is (example) squatting, weight lifted is going to vary massively depending on weight belts, knee straps, free weight or machine, and depth of squat.

How much you can lift in a certain movement is highly dependent on genetics.
Shorter, stockier guys are naturally going to be able to lift more weight squatting. Taller, lankier guys are going to be better deadlifters.

There are no reliable standards for determining overall strength.

Keep good form while lifting, and concentrate on putting on a little more weight each time.

Well I have a ratio chart somewhere dealing with opposing muscle groups. Examples Bicep to Tricep is 1:1. I think quadricep to hamstring is 2:1 or 3:1 ect. The article deals with having balanced strength to help prevent injury. If you want me to look for it I will.